Life Your Way {Full}

Ask The Community: What Do You Blog About and Why?

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:30:08 GMT

The following post is from James of Google+ Tutorials:

Source: quinn.anya

My last blog here at Blogging Your Way was titled Does Your Blog Have Clear Direction? In that post, I talked about the importance of our blogs having a good focus so that your audience can know exactly what to expect every time they come by your blog, and that actually by limiting your content to a specific niche, you are more likely to build a loyal base of readers.

In the comments, I was replying to a question that someone had asked, and it really got me thinking again about our motivation for blogging and the topics that we blog about. I am sure that there is a wide range here in this community, and I thought that it would be really great for us to have a discussion about this. Not only would it help us here at Blogging Your Way to know the sort of posts that would be helpful to you in reaching your goals, but also a great opportunity to discover new blogs written by others in the community and finding out the motivation behind them. Pretty cool idea right? I think so!

I thought that we could all introduce ourselves, our blogs and our motivation. So what I would like to propose that we do is each answer three questions in the comments below. This will be a great opportunity to discuss, discover, and grow as bloggers!

The questions that I would like as many people as possible to answer in the comments are as follows:

1) What is the web address of your blog

2) What is your blog about?

3) What is your motivation for blogging?

(Fame, fortune, sharing knowledge, meeting new people, being involved in a community, etc!)

Perhaps we will all find some new blogs to add to our Google Reader!

I am really looking forward to seeing some of your blogs, talking to you about your blogging motivations and making some new connections!

Let’s go! Answer the three questions from above in the comments below!

	James Brooks is a professional blogger, web designer and social media consultant based on the South West coast of England. As well as being a co-founder of GPlusTuts, a blog about Google+, James also enjoys blogging about technology, food and tea!

Ask The Community: What Do You Blog About and Why? is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Work Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

The Positives of Paying with Plastic

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:00:19 GMT

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

photo credit: 401K

If you have ever read Dave Ramsey, you know that he hates credit cards. He encourages people to pay with cash (or a debit card) instead of using the plastic.

Using a cash-only approach can certainly help someone get out of debt and stay out of debt.

But if you are disciplined, there are some positive benefits of carrying a credit card that shouldn’t be ignored.

Rewards

From cash back on your purchases to frequent flyer miles, there are plenty of credit cards on the market that offer rewards. If you put all of your recurring regular expenses on a rewards card (like your utility bill, gas fill-ups, etc) and pay the bill in full every month, you’ll earn hundreds of dollars worth of rewards for just doing what you would normally be doing. Make sure the credit card you choose doesn’t have any minimum purchase requirements to earn rewards or charge exorbitant annual fees, or the rewards won’t be worth it.

Consumer Protection

Some credit cards offer additional consumer protections, such as extended warranties on your purchases. If you have a dispute with a merchant, sometimes your credit card company can help you resolve the issue and get a charge removed.

Rental Car Insurance

If you’re renting a car, hold off on paying for costly insurance until you’ve checked with your credit card company. Some credit card companies offer some rental car insurance protections if you pay for the rental with your credit card.

Special Discounts

Some credit card companies offer special discounts and perks for their customers. Everything from free museum admission to discounted concert tickets are available through special offers. So, find out what your card can offer you.

Foreign Travel

Traveling out of the country? Carry plastic. You won’t have to worry about the exchange rate when you use your credit card. And you won’t have to carry too much cash. Which leads me to my next point…

Cards Can Be Safer Than Cash

Carrying a large sum of cash can make you a target for thieves. And if your cash is lost or stolen, it’s most likely gone forever. On the other hand, if your credit card is lost or stolen, you can quickly cancel the account and contest any charges you didn’t make. It’s a good idea to use credit cards instead of debit cards when making purchases or payments online, as the credit cards offer better protections. Ask your credit company about their fraud alert programs (sometimes you get this service for free) and protect your money from would-be thieves.

Credit cards should never be treated like an emergency fund. You shouldn’t use them to live beyond your means. But when you pay the balance in full every month and take advantage of the positive perks they offer, credit cards can be a useful tool to helping you manage your money.

Do you use credit cards? Why or why not?

	Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 6-year-old and twin 4-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

The Positives of Paying with Plastic is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Money Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

How a Second Chance Question Can Make Us Better Moms

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:24 GMT

The following post is from Kat of Inspired To Action:

Source: Alyssa L. Miller

A few months ago I stumbled upon a phrase that has saved my sanity. A phrase that single handedly reduced the amount of bickering in my home. A phrase that frees me from mommy guilt and shines the hallowed light of wisdom on the hearts and minds of my children. A phrase that shall go down in history…

“Kat…will you stop with the melodrama and get on with this magical little phrase of yours…?”

Oh, yeah, right…

The phrase is… {drumroll} “What could you have done differently?”

Perhaps you were hoping for something a bit more profound? No worries, let me show you how powerful these words are.

Second Chance Scenario 1

My kids are playing outside. My son and youngest daughter are fighting over a scooter. It’s my son’s scooter, but my daughter was already playing with it when my son walked over, pushed her off and tried to take it. They both come running into the house upset and telling their sides of the story.

This is all completely hypothetical…of course.

Formerly, my response would have been:
1. Calm them down.
2. Ask what happened.
3. Ask them to stop talking at the same time.
4. Calm them down, again.
5. Ask one kid what happened.
6. Listen while kid #2 hops around desperate to tell their side of the story.
7. Decide who should have the scooter.
8. Listen to protests.
9. Send them back out to play, operating on a very weak truce.

Now, I simply say:
1. “I see you are upset with one another. What could you have done differently?”
2. Then, I listen as each of them comes up with the exact answer I would have previously given to them in lecture form.
3. Then I say, “Great answer! You really know how to handle the situation. Now go do that.”

Honestly? It’s like magic. Even my 4 year old knows where he’s gone wrong, and how he could do things differently. And since the question is entirely self focused, my children spend their brainpower fixing what is actually in their power to fix, instead of blaming or trying to control one another.

I know it almost sounds “too simple” to work, but trust me and try it. It’s kind of awesome.

Second Chance Scenario 2

I am a wreck. It’s the end of the day and the kids are finally in bed. I was grumpy, impatient, grumpy, annoyed, grumpy, tired, grumpy, frustrated and…grumpy.

Closing the doors to their rooms after kissing them goodnight was akin to dragging myself across the finish line of a 100 mile ultra marathon. Except harder.

I could have lamented about how miserable I was at being a mom. I could have listed all the things I did wrong. I could have berated myself for not living up to my ideals.

Instead? I asked myself a simple question, “What could I have done differently?”

After I’ve sufficiently answered, I continue the conversation with myself, “Great! Now go do that tomorrow.”

When I ask that question, I know that those thoughts are the only ones that matter. I am better able to recognize guilt, condemnation and other unhelpful thoughts and replace them with positive actions I can take the next day.

The Power of Second Chances

Training our children isn’t about simply punishing wrong responses. It’s even more importantly about giving second chances and teaching them the right responses.

When we ask them “what they could have done differently?” we are giving them the gift of a “do over.” We are saying that we believe in them and their ability to do the right thing.

Could you give yourself or those around you more second chances? What are the “phrases” that have helped you as a mom?

	Kat blogs at Inspired To Action, a site dedicated to helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat loves music, running, technology, Jesus and Tex-Mex food. Not necessarily in that order.

How a Second Chance Question Can Make Us Better Moms is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Doing More with Baking Soda {Summer Fun & Shiny Sinks}

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:45 GMT

source: Mandi Ehman

In many ways, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is the ultimate green, frugal and simple product. You can use it in a variety of ways, from your kitchen to your bathroom, from the nursery to the laundry room. And at under $1 a box – a box that stretches and stretches and stretches – the price can’t be beat either.

I already use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda fairly religiously at home…in my homemade deodorant, in the trash can to absorb odor, on bee stings and rashes, and – of course – for baking.

But those things are really just scratching the surface as far as possibilities. Last year I put together a list of 60 uses for baking soda, and I still need to try many of these for myself.

This month I’m going to attempt to cross a few off my bucket list:

My girls haven’t yet discovered the fun of baking soda, so I’m looking forward to doing some of the fun activities on this list, like a volcanic eruption and bath fizzies.

In addition, we’ve been struggling with hard water stains in our bathroom and kitchen sinks, and I had completely forgotten about the scouring power of baking soda, so I’m going to attempt to get those shiny and new looking with a little help from baking soda and its partner in crime, vinegar.

Giveaway

The maker of Arm & Hammer products challenged me to switch to Arm & Hammer Baking Soda this summer, and they are giving away $12,000 in the Arm & Hammer Switch & Save Challenge Sweepstakes. To be entered to win one (1) of twelve (12) $1,000 prizes, simply reply to the question below!

Remember to join other Arm & Hammer Switch & Save conversations for even more chances to win.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Arm & Hammer. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Doing More with Baking Soda {Summer Fun & Shiny Sinks} is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Home Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

How to Prepare Your Home Business for a Natural Disaster

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:45 GMT

The following post is from Lisa of Working Naked:

source: Thomas Good

No one wants to think about being in a hurricane, tornado, or fire, but bad things happen. While you may not know when a natural disaster is going to hit your home office (if ever), it’s important to be prepared to handle whatever comes your way.

Get it on film.

Videotape everything in your home office and the rest of your home. As you walk through your home, describe in detail everything you see. Start on one side of the room and work clockwise to make sure you film the entire room. Take the time to back up the video online.

Organize receipts.

Store receipts and warranty information from large purchases in a hanging file folder labeled “Purchases.” Within the folder, label interior folders (they’re cut lower than manila folders) “office equipment” and any other general category of purchases. Before you file a receipt, staple it to the warranty booklet for that item. In case an item is damaged, you’ll know where to find the receipt.

Back up, back up, back up

Back up your data often (at least weekly) and keep at least two copies. Actually, three copies is ideal. Store one copy in your office and two off-site. Some people put off backing up data, but finally take the time to do so after a disaster hits. Remember that your computer is easy to replace, while data is difficult and time-consuming to recreate.

Don’t let it burn.

Store important business and personal documents in your safe deposit box or in a fireproof file cabinet. Information ranging from insurance policies to investment information can be time-consuming to replace. You may not need to refer to the information often, but when you need it, you know it will be safe.

Protect important info.

Start a file labeled “Emergency Information” and keep it in a nearby file drawer. Inside it keep copies of your insurance papers, credit card numbers and other vital information that you would need easy access to in case of an emergency. It’s a good idea to store a duplicate file off-site in your safe deposit box.

Have enough coverage.

Don’t assume that your homeowner’s insurance covers your home office equipment. Many policies don’t, so you may need to purchase additional coverage. The time to find out whether or not you have enough insurance is before you need it.

Natural disasters from tornadoes to fires to hurricanes can be devastating both personally and professionally. Although you can’t control disasters, you can take steps to prepare for the unexpected.

How have you prepared your home office for a natural disaster?

	Home office expert Lisa Kanarek is the founder of WorkingNaked.com and the author of five books about working from home, including Organize Your Home Office For Success. Lisa works with entrepreneurs and home-based employees through seminars and individual consultations, to create functional home offices that meet each individual’s working style.

How to Prepare Your Home Business for a Natural Disaster is a post from Life Your Way

Take Charge of Your Summer with the 2012 Summer Survival Calendar

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:30:49 GMT

source: Mandi Ehman

It seems like there are two versions of summer vacation: The first is the busy summer full of camps and activities and play dates, while the second is a laid back summer with no structure or outside activities.

Well, maybe there are three versions. For those of us who have kids home all day long anyway (whether it be the toddler/preschool variety or our homeschool students), summer can feel like a continuation of the rest of the year, without anything special to remind us of the summers of our own youth.

None of those options are necessarily bad, but I’ll have to admit I always dream of more!

I wish for the lazy days of summer, without a ton of commitments or places to go, but I also wish for ways to mark these days as special — a little activity, a special frozen treat, a picnic in the backyard.

And honestly, summer seems to fly by a little faster every year and it never quite looks the way I expected.

Part of the problem is gathering the ideas and committing them to the calendar. Sure, my Pinterest board of activities for the girls is overflowing with ideas, but getting those ideas from Pinterest to real life doesn’t always happen.

2012 Summer Survival Calendar

Susan from The Confident Mom wants to help you take charge of your summer and make it the summer you’ve always dreamed of with the 2012 Summer Survival Calendar.

Packed full of boredom-blasting activities, creative craft projects, kid-friendly recipes, and more, this colorful summer calendar features at least one affordable (often free!) activity each day from May 15 to August 31 — from making your own kite, ice cream in a bag, hopscotch, and solar s’mores to sandpaper painted T-shirts, driveway baseball, pajama day, and pepperoni pizza cups!

And the best part, each activity includes a clickable link with project directions and supplies to make planning and execution easy.

You’ll also find printable calendars, planning tools and worksheets to help you organize and plan your summer.

A summer full of activities that keep my kids engaged and excited for each new day? It sounds like a dream!

Click here to get your 2012 Summer Survival Calendar now.

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions and dreams are 100% my own!

Take Charge of Your Summer with the 2012 Summer Survival Calendar is a post from Life Your Way

7 Ways to Use Evernote to Manage Your Chaos

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:05 GMT

The following is a guest post from Lauren Rothlisberger of GetMeGeeky.com:

source: GetGeeky

Evernote is a fantastic tech tool that can help you get a grip on all the loose ends in your life. You simply install it on your computer and smartphone, and it will quickly develop into your digital file cabinet. Below, I have listed 7 examples of ways I use Evernote in my everyday life.

Shot Records

It is always at the most random and inconvenient times I get caught needing one of my kids shot records. With my records saved electronically their shot records are with me wherever I go.

Babysitting File

It seems that every time we have a babysitter planned that it is total chaos beforehand. Keeping a babysitting file on hand with the bedtime routine and emergency information makes it simple to get out the door. I just email over the info to the babysitter. This is especially handy in the event of an emergency.

Vacation Planning

Planning a vacation for a family is no simple task. Finding a place to stay, making travel plans and keeping track of the paperwork. Not to mention the work to get everyone out the door. I keep all my lists with everything we need to get packed in Evernote. It is so easy to share notes. I can send them over to my husband too.

Honey Do List

Family life is pretty busy, but it doesn’t stop those nagging tasks from needing to get done. Weekends in our house get pretty crammed. So, when there is time to get things accomplished, it is easiest to pull out my on-going “honey do” list. Always having this information it makes our trips to Lowes, Target and grocery store much more efficient.

Home/Property Management

Managing your home or multiple homes is a lot of work. However, there is massive amounts of time to be saved by tracking all your home information through a paperless system. You can put warranty info, appliance info, leases, paperwork, pictures, and repair contacts all in Evernote. This allows you to easily and promptly deal with any home situation that occurs.

Kids’ Artwork

I love all the awesome artwork and projects that my kids bring home from school, however, I can’t stand all the clutter of the paper. I save the absolute best of the best. The rest I snap a photo of, save in Evernote and throw it away guilt free.

Kids’ Activities Schedules

Keeping up with the back and forth of all the kids is exhausting. School schedules, sports information are all saved in Evernote. That way no matter where I am I can reference these events that we need to work around.

If you would like to learn more information on getting up and running with Evernote and organizing everything within, check out my ebook, Evernote for Moms. It is a quick and easy read designed to get you started in one afternoon.

So, what other lists and notes do you store on Evernote? I’d love to hear how you use this tool to make your life easier.

Lauren Rothlisberger is a mom to three girls and an Army wife who bounces around the country. In 2007 she went paperless and has never looked back. She blogs at GetMeGeeky.com on all things geeky, and she recently wrote an ebook called Evernote for Moms to help other moms achieve a paperless life!

7 Ways to Use Evernote to Manage Your Chaos is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

9 Binder Benders for Kids

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:30:37 GMT

source: Mandi Ehman

A couple months ago I talked about ways to use binders to get organized at home. Today I’m sharing more ideas specifically for kids. Binders not only help them organize but also archive and showcase their stuff, as seen below:

1. Art Binders: With four crafty girls in our home, we can only keep a fraction of their artwork or we’ll end up on Hoarders within just a few years, but I love the idea of storing the stuff we do keep in a special binder, one per child. Unlike the popular memory box option, which is how we’ve done it until now, using a binder makes it easier to actually flip through and appreciate their art. It also keeps it in order so you can see the progression of their skills over time!

2. School Binders: Use binders not just during the school year but also to archive your student’s best work after the school year ends. Use one color per child or a different color for each grade level.

3. Lego & Game Manuals, Puzzle Guides, etc.: Put manuals in page protectors and keep them in a binder. Not only will you avoid hunting for a missing manual, but the page protectors also, ahem, protect them so that they’ll last longer in better condition.

source: Shaina Olmanson

4. Homemade Books: Homemade books are a great way to teach colors & numbers, body parts, animals and more. Use pictures from magazines or your own collection and use page protectors to make the book more durable.

5. Baseball Card Collection: Besides school papers, this is probably the most obvious way to use a binder for kids, but I still had to add it to the list!

6. Activity Books: Print out activity pages (make your own or search Pinterest for tons of printables) and put them in page protectors to do with dry erase markers for reusable fun!

7. Scrapbooks: Create homemade scrapbooks for a fraction of the cost, a great way to introduce kids to documenting a season or trip with pictures and words!

8. Writing or Poetry Journal: Encourage your kids to write stories and poems and save them in a binder. Similar to an art journal, a writing journal not only showcases their best work but also lets them see their skills progress over time.

source: Mandi Ehman

9. Study Tools: We use a binder for studying our Classical Conversations memory work as part of our homeschooling, but you could use a binder to organize study notes and images for any subject as easy way to study and memorize information.

Naked Binder, a Life Your Way sponsor, makes a line of environmentally friendly binders that are perfect for kids. Not only are they completely recyclable and made from 97% post consumer waste, but they’ve also been independently tested to withstand more than 250,000 flexes. That’s a lot of use!

In addition, the project binders come with your choice of colorful spine wraps so that kids can choose a binder in their favorite color.

What other ways could your kids use these great binders?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life…Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

9 Binder Benders for Kids is a post from Life Your Way

Gardening with Your Kids

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:01:09 GMT

The following post is from Shaina of Food for My Family and Olmanson Photography:

source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

I happen to know that Mandi is going to talk about cooking with her kids in a week, and while I have shared my personal feelings and a few strategies for doing just that, I thought I’d take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about what comes before the cooking in our home.

We’ve gone over how important I think it is to involve the kids from beginning to end, which means plenty of time spent perusing supermarket aisles and farmers market stands kids right there with me. However, in our home, we view the gardening part as equally important.

But I don’t have space!

I’ve had this problem before, too. We lived in an apartment, and then we moved to a rental property where we didn’t have control over the yard. Still, a few small pots filled with herbs taught the basics of gardening: Seed to plant to food. That is the lesson I’m going for. Where exactly does our food come from?

Why is growing a plant important?

This idea becomes even more important as you live in small spaces where the kids aren’t exposed to it on an annual sort of basis, if ever. I think how lucky my kids are, living near the state university’s farm campus, how a museum down the street serves to show them just how life was like 100 years ago. They are privileged, for sure.

source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

Without exposure to the ways in which food is grown and harvested, it is easy for kids to take for granted the work that goes into producing food. Even the act of growing a small pot of rosemary can help to teach them how a plant is a living thing that must be cared for grown before we can pick it and eat something. This small lesson can serve to teach gratitude for the food that sits in front of us, and the act of growing something yourself can help curb those fears of new food.

Will growing our food mean our kids eat everything?!

I regret to tell you the answer is no. However, this process of teaching your children about the food you eat can help to broaden their horizons and make them more receptive of new foods that you might want to introduce them to.

I remember when my eldest was four. She was right at the age where asserting your hatred of certain foods becomes pretty common. Children want to have a voice, and so for Kiera that meant that all flecks of anything on food were “spicy” and not to be eaten. Black pepper? Spicy. Minced parsley? Spicy.

source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

It was her exposure to garden herbs that won the spice war, teaching her different fragrances for the different herbs, giving her the responsibility of watering them, having her help stir them into dishes. It was educating her that not all flecks of spice in food equaled spicy on the tongue.

How do I get started?

This process doesn’t have to be difficult. Whatever area you have will work. A small Ikea pot with a bit of potting soil and one solitary herb plant can be a great start to getting your kids growing. If you already have a garden, encourage the kids to pick a single vegetable that they’re responsible for. My kids’ favorites to grow are: tomatoes, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, funny-shaped squash (crooked neck and patty pan). Bring them to the nursery or market to pick out their plant, let them get their hands dirty digging the hole, and teach them how to check to see how wet the dirt should be so they know when to water it.

It is a simple lesson that will pay off in far more ways than one.

Did you garden with your parents growing up? What do you remember about the experience?

	Shaina Olmanson is the home cook and photographer behind Food for My Family and Olmanson Photography, a daily contributor to Babble.com’s Family Kitchen Blog and the editor of the food channel for Lifetime Moms. Shaina can usually be found in one of three places: cooking, at the computer or behind the camera.

Gardening with Your Kids is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Food Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift: Photo Flower Pens

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:30:24 GMT

The following post is from Kristina of Toddler Approved:

source: Toddler Approved

I have intense gift giving anxiety. If I want to thank someone I love or really appreciate, I think about what gift to give to them for weeks and weeks… and then when I can’t figure out something special or thoughtful enough, I resort to procrastinating. This typically leads me to the gift card aisle at the grocery store on the morning that I am supposed to be giving the gift. Does anyone else have that problem? (I love gift cards and loved receiving them as a teacher, but sometimes I want to do something that shows a little more effort).

I really admire people who have the ability to create thoughtful, sweet, and creative gifts. I love receiving them and wish I was better at giving them. My son and I have loved his preschool teacher this year, so we got started working on an end of the year gift a few weeks early. One of my favorite gifts that I received as a teacher was a set of felt flower pens that our classroom “room mom” had my students make for me. This week I decided to recreate that adorable gift and personalize it a bit with photos of my son saying “THANKS!” I have used the pens I received for years and every time I see them still I have great memories of the students who created them for me. I’m hoping my son’s teacher likes them just as much!

source: Toddler Approved

This project wasn’t that hard but does require a few special things that you might not have lying around.

Materials Needed for Photo Flower Pens:

colored felt (we used 6 different colors)
fabric scissors
flower template (we used this one)
ball point pens
floral tape
hot glue gun/glue sticks
puffy paint/glitter glue pens
photos
colorful buttons
vase or flower pot

source: Toddler Approved

Directions to make Photo Flower Pens:

1. Use your flower template to help you cut out several felt flowers. We used 12 flowers to spell “Thanks.”

source: Toddler Approved

2. Decorate the felt flowers with puffy paint or glitter glue pens to add a personalized touch. We painted 6 flowers and left 6 flowers blank. I tried to encourage my four-year-old to not just put giant globs of paint every where. We enjoyed trying out different colors, designs, and motions to see how the paint would fall onto the felt.

source: Toddler Approved

3. While you let the paint globs dry, snap some photos of your child for the backs of the flower pens. Here are a few examples of what we did. I just printed out the letters in the word “THANKS” on some card stock and then my son gave me all sorts of crazy expressions while I snapped pictures.

source: Toddler Approved

4. Print out the photos on photo paper so that they are small enough to stick on your felt flowers. Ours were approximately 1 in x 2 in.

5. Use hot glue to attached one photo to each felt flower that hasn’t been painted.

6. Use the floral tape and wrap it around 6 pens to make them look like stems. Floral tape gets stickier as your wrap it, so wrap it several times up and down the pens, and it should attached to them.

source: Toddler Approved

7. Once your puffy paint felt flowers are dry, sandwich the pens in between them and hot glue them together. Have a painted flower on the front and a photo flower on the back.

source: Toddler Approved

8. Add any other glue gun embellishments you want. My son liked adding different colored buttons.

source: Toddler Approved

9. Stick the pens in a cute vase or flower pot and give them to your favorite teacher or friend as a gift! I typically like to add a $10-15 gift card to a favorite treat shop inside the gift as well so that the teacher can go relax and celebrate at the end of the year.

source: Toddler Approved

These are a few other homemade gift ideas I’ve collected that would be fun to give as a teacher appreciation/end of the school year gift:

The nicest gift I think you can give a teacher is a thoughtful note expressing your gratitude and a year’s worth of support and help.

Do you like to make homemade gifts for teachers and friends or do you prefer store bought ones? What is the most thoughtful or creative gift you have received or given? If you are a teacher, what has been the best gift you’ve been given?

	Kristina is a mom of 2 and a former Special Ed teacher for children with communication disabilities. She blogs at Toddler Approved as she looks for ways to make life a little more fun and creative with her kids while embedding learning into everything that she does. Kristina tweets as @ToddlerApproved and can be found on FB and Pinterest.

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift: Photo Flower Pens is a post from Life Your Way

SEO Optimize Your Blog Posts Using Keywords

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:01:48 GMT

The following post is from James of Google+ Tutorials:

source: stopnlook

Learning to SEO optimize your blog posts can make the difference between having a blog that gets tons of traffic, and having a blog no one else – except maybe your friends and family – will ever see.

One of the best ways to search engine optimize your blog posts is by using keyword phrases people might actually use to find information on the kinds of things you write about.

Here’s a crash course on using keywords to get more traffic to your blog:

Choose the Right Keywords

Keywords and keyword phrases help to determine how well your blog post will rank in the search engines. The better it ranks the more visits that post, and your blog, will get.

Keywords are the words and phrases web surfers use when searching for specific information. To find out which keywords are getting a lot of searches in your niche, use the free Google Keyword Tool. Under “Match Types,” uncheck “broad match” and check “exact match.” The more searches a keyword has, the better and the fewer words there are in a search term, the more competition there will be.

For example, you’d have an easier time ranking well for “third party car insurance” than for “car insurance.”

Use Keywords the Right Way

Once you have a keyword that’s highly searched, but has low competition, you want to use it in the right way. Try to work your keyword phrase into the title of the blog post, and the post’s very first paragraph. You can also try to work the phrase into the last paragraph, although there’s some debate over how important this really is. You should also try to work the keywords into the H1 tag and the H2 tags, which are usually used for subheadings. But only do this if it looks natural, many have abandoned this practice because using keywords in every subhead can be difficult to do naturally.

What you don’t want to do is use the keyword too many times in your post. This is called “keyword stuffing”, and search engines don’t like it. So if your keyword phrase appears 20 times in a 500 word blog post, some pruning is in order.

Use Images Wisely

Using images can add a nice, visual element to a blog post, which will appeal to your readers. Images are also another way to SEO optimize your post.

If your keyword phrase is “car insurance online,” you can use that phrase as the name of your image. You can also use the phrase in the image’s alt and title tags, but only do this if it fits. If you have an image of people frolicking on a beach, giving it the alt tag “car insurance online” would be misleading. Instead, choose an image that fits the keyword. For example, an image of a computer with a car on its screen would be perfect for a “Car Insurance Online” blog post.

If you want more traffic, you need to SEO optimize your blog posts, and while there are more advanced ways to do that, using keywords is a relatively simple method that gets results. I hope that these tips will help you to get more targeted search engine traffic to your blogs!

Do you have any other tips for SEO optimizing blog posts? Why not share them in the comments below!

	James Brooks is a professional blogger, web designer and social media consultant based on the South West coast of England. As well as being a co-founder of GPlusTuts, a blog about Google+, James also enjoys blogging about technology, food and tea!

SEO Optimize Your Blog Posts Using Keywords is a post from Life Your Way

Confessions of an Autopilot Parent

Mon, 14 May 2012 21:30:29 GMT

source: Thomas Beck

Before I had kids of my own, I had a vision of what kind of parent I’d be. Let me tell you, in my dreams I was some kind of awesome! Fifteen years and four kids, I’ve fallen short of those expectations more times than I care to count. But you know what? That’s okay. I’m human, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that there’s no perfection in parenting.

Even though I’ve given up on my dreams of being a perfect parent, I still try my best to be a good one. Despite that, I’ve developed a nasty habit of turning my parenting skills on autopilot on a pretty routine basis. Look it up in the dictionary, and you’ll find that being on autopilot is “a cognitive state in which you act without self-awareness.” Uh oh. Sounds awfully familiar.

What is Autopilot Parenting?

Autopilot parenting happens when we go through our days without being fully aware of what’s going on around us and specifically in our interactions with our kids. We set a parenting goal of just surviving the day, rather than striving to be actively engaged with our children. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we all have days when we do a little victory dance just because we made it to bedtime. But that shouldn’t be how we feel about every day. Instead, more days than not we need to be intentional and aware in our interactions with our children.

My worst autopilot parenting trap is the computer. Email. Blogs. Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Pretty easy to tune out the kids with those online distractions to tune in to! My most frequent response to my kids when I’m on the computer is “in a minute.” Most of the time when I say it I don’t even look up to pay attention to what they’ve asked. My response just comes right out of my mouth automatically, to buy me a few more minutes on the computer.

But truthfully, it’s more important to look my kids in the eye, hear their request, and then respond to them appropriately than it is to automatically respond “in a minute.” Take my advice, when I’ve said “in a minute” to my kids on autopilot and without truly listening, I’ve agreed to some pretty ridiculous things. Honestly I once said “in a minute” when my daughter asked for a cookie for breakfast! That was a wake up call for this autopilot mom.

Finding a Cure.

If you think about it, there are probably lots of situations where you find yourself parenting on autopilot. Driving. Cooking. Cleaning. Homework. Bedtime. You name it and as parents we can shift into autopilot so fast we don’t even realize it.

Luckily, it’s just as easy to get out of autopilot as it is to get into it:

First, actively listen to what your children say. When they talk look them in the eye and respond in a way that shows you’re listening. Be eager to engage them in a conversation.

Next, vary up your routines with your kids so that you’re less likely to zone out. Drive a different route. Take a walk around the block. Put away the electronics. Just make it different.

And finally, be on the lookout for autopilot traps. If you have the ability to notice them, then you can come up with a game plan to avoid them.

Do you ever find yourself parenting on autopilot? Share with us. We’d love to hear about some of your traps, and how you manage to get out of them.

	Dr. Polly Dunn is a licensed psychologist, specializing in child clinical psychology. As a mom of four, she’s found like you that many of the textbook parenting techniques recommended by professionals are hard to apply in real life. At ChildPsychMom.com her ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ parenting solutions combine expert advice with real world tips to best help you on your parenting journey.

Confessions of an Autopilot Parent is a post from Life Your Way

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess (Plus a Giveaway!)

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:36:50 GMT

There are a handful of books I’ve read that I’d consider truly life-changing. Grace for the Good Girl, The Screwtape Letters, Last Child in the Woods and In Defense of Food are among those.

And now? I’d add Jen Hatmaker’s 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess to the list as well.

The premise of this book is simple, but the results are anything but.

Jen Hatmaker, author and Bible teacher, took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.

Over the course of seven one-month challenges, she fasted from excess in seven different areas: food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, stress.

This book is a journal of her struggles along the way and the lessons she learned through each fast.

Can you imagine eating just seven foods for an entire month? We have an unbelievable variety of food at our fingertips, while much of the world suffers without enough food for basic nourishment, and yet we take it for granted. What if we took time to actually think about and appreciate every bit of food that went into our mouths?

Or as you look at your closet overflowing with clothes, can you imagine wearing just seven articles of clothing for a month? Without worrying about what other people might think?

While every chapter in this book touched me in some way, it was the possessions chapter that had the most impact on me. I literally cried my way through it, which may seem odd given my focus on decluttering and living as somewhat of a minimalist.

But here’s the thing. You know why I declutter my home so often? For my own sanity. For the peacefulness that comes from not having overflowing shelves and an abundance behind every door.

Jen challenged this thinking so poignantly in this as she talked about the needs not just around the world but in our own communities. As I shovel things out the door and to the closest donation center, she was prayerfully donating items to specific families who needed them. As I wash my hands of all this excess stuff (that seems to find its way into our home time and time again), she is looking for ways to bless individuals and to hold on to items until she can bless someone specifically with that item.

What a selfish stance I’ve taken in the past, thinking only of the effect that stuff has on my own life. I still want to clear that stuff out, but I want to do so for the benefit of others; and I want to sacrificially give to others as well, not just when something happens to be in my way!

Jen’s book is radical, no doubt, and she doesn’t ask her reader to imagine living the rest of their lives with just seven foods or seven items of clothing. The goal is to step back and look at each of these areas with a new sense of clarity and intentionality. To see the waste and the excess and to walk away from those things.

Enter to Win

I received a review copy of 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess for free, but I loved it so much that I want to buy a copy for two Life Your Way readers!

To enter, fill out the form below:

This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, 5/17. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well! Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and above.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess (Plus a Giveaway!) is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Green Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

5 Free Things You Can Do to Help Your Finances

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:01:18 GMT

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

photo credit: Eirik Solheim

When you’re feeling stuck because of debt, or you just can’t seem to get any traction when it comes to increasing your income, it can be very frustrating. Watch any late night television, and you’ll be bombarded with sales pitches to consolidate your debt or make money quick.

Fortunately, there are some very simple things you can do right now, that are completely FREE, that would help your finances.

Check your credit report.

You can get a free credit report from each of the three reporting agencies (Experian, EquiFax, and TransUnion) once a year. It’s a good idea to check your report to make sure that there are no errors. Look closely to make sure debt you’ve paid off has been recorded properly. Make sure there isn’t any outstanding debt that isn’t yours, which could indicate identity theft.

Make sure to correct any errors you find. An erroneous credit report can make it difficult for you to borrow money and can affect your credit score. A low credit score can mean you’ll pay more for interest rates on borrowed money and increased insurance rates as well. It doesn’t take long to check your credit report. It’s totally free, and it’s easy. The best part – you can see just how far you’ve come on your journey to better finances!

Start a budget.

If you’re serious about being a good steward of your money, then you should track your expenses and start a budget. There are plenty of free budget tracking resources available – from printable spreadsheets to software to smartphone apps. You’ll know where you stand when it comes to your money and you’ll know what expenditures are problem areas for you.

Negotiate your rates.

Pick up the phone and call your cell phone company, your cable/satellite company, or your internet service provider, and ask them for the best rates they can give you. Do the same for your auto, home, and life insurance. You could save a decent chunk of change with just a few minutes of your time.

Drop unhealthy (and expensive) vices.

Now, I’m not saying you should give up things that bring you enjoyment. It’s ultimately up to you to decide what you value. But consider giving up some of the more unhealthy vices you may have such as smoking, drinking, gambling, or fast food meals. Consider dropping soda from your daily beverage consumption or avoiding relationships with people who drain you of your financial and emotional resources. You’ll not only save a huge amount of money, you’ll also help prevent future financial difficulties caused by unhealthy habits. And you’ll feel so much better.

Read. Read. Read.

Head to your local public library and check out all the personal finance books you can. Read books on saving for retirement, getting out of debt, investing, and economics. Check out books and magazines about cooking, sewing, home improvement, gardening, and do-it-yourself projects. You’ll arm yourself with the tools to manage your money for free. And you’ll learn valuable skills and enjoyable activities that can help you save money.

The truth is that when we’re stuck there is always something we can do. We just have to stop and think a bit about what that is.

What free things have you done to get your finances on track?

	Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 6-year-old and twin 4-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

5 Free Things You Can Do to Help Your Finances is a post from Life Your Way

Amazon Deals: Kindle Freebies, Diaper Deals + More

Mandi — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:30:06 +0000

My mom and are having a lot of fun sharing the best Amazon.com deals over at our new site, Jungle Deals & Steals. In case you missed them, here are some of this week’s hottest deals that are still available!

{Click here for the full list of current deals.}

Kindle

Diapers & Wipes

If you’re not currently a member, sign up for a 3-month trial of Amazon Mom with Amazon Prime to save an extra 15% on diapers and get FREE two-day shipping!

Toys

Grocery

Health & Personal Care

Household

Media

Make sure you don’t miss any deals! Subscribe now by email or in a feed reader.

Amazon Deals: Kindle Freebies, Diaper Deals + More is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Life Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

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Giveaway: 250 Custom Die Cut Business Cards

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:30:17 GMT

This giveaway is now closed! The winner is Ashlee (angashlee@…)!

I have a bit of a business card problem. As an entrepreneur, I regularly start new websites and businesses, and not all of those make it!

Whenever I attend a blogging conference or event, I end up ordering new business cards that reflect my current business interests, which means I choose the cheapest option available so that I’m not wasting money (just, er, paper).

I’d love to get beautiful, high-quality, unique business cards, though, and recently I’ve thought about getting generic business cards for my company, Purple Martin Press, LLC, without listing my individual sites.

UPrinting die-cut business cards come in a variety of specialty shapes (like those seen above), to give you a business card that really stands out.

Choose from:

2 x 3.5″ Rounded Corners
2×2″ Rounded Corners
1.75×3.5″ Rounded Corners
2×3.5″ Leaf
2×3.5″ Rounded one corner
2×3.5″ Half Circle Side
2×3.5″ Oval
2.5″ Circle

And choose high-quality 14 pt. cardstock in gloss, matte or high gloss (UV) or 13 pt. uncoated cardstock.

The die cut business cards start at just $46.53.

For a variety of business tips and news, be sure to follow Uprinting on your favorite social media network:

Enter to Win

This week, Uprinting is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader 250 custom die cut business cards!

To enter, fill out the form below:

This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, 5/16. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well! Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and above. Winners of a Uprinting giveaway during the past six months are not eligible to win.

Giveaway: 250 Custom Die Cut Business Cards is a post from Life Your Way

Weekend Reading: May 12, 2012

Mandi — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:01:42 +0000

source: Heidi Scovel

I will be sharing more thoughts about our time with Susan Wise Bauer in a homeschooling series that I’ll be doing in June, but I had to share the proof that we really did get to meet and spend time with her last weekend!

The entire weekend was amazing and refreshing and thought-provoking. Heidi, Stephanie, Tsh, Jessica, Sarah (not pictured) and I spent the entire time talking — about blogging, family, homeschooling and more. And we spent quite a bit of time with Susan getting her thoughts on everything from pursuing her own passion as a writer to when to change math curricula.

Beforehand, I wondered if leaving our family vacation a couple days early for this opportunity was the right thing to do; thankfully, I left knowing it absolutely had been the right decision!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

This week in the SentrySafe Spring Cleaning Blogger Challenge, I shared my tips for organizing your junk drawer! Head on over and like SentrySafe to see those tips. Leave me a comment for a chance to win a SentrySafe for your own family. If my post receives the most comments, they’ll also make a $150 donation to Children’s Miracle Network, a charity that we support because of the way it has touched our family.

Motherhood {A Heart for Tanzania}

This week, a group of bloggers traveled to Tanzania with Compassion, including my friend Amy from Resourceful Mommy. The group’s reflections on their time there have been honest, heart-wrenching and real. Here are some of my favorites:

Decorating Truths from A 15-Year-Old Tanzanian Boy | Nesting Place

{What I Found at the Market.} | Gussy Sews

The Difference a Gift Can Make | Homeschool Creations

Meeting My Sponsored Child | Resourceful Mommy

In Defense Of Jesus | Shaun Groves

Miracles So Great | Minivans Are Hot

Food {Little Steps, Big Payoffs}

Let’s Save Some Money: The Eat from the Freezer and Pantry Challenge! | Keeper of the Home

Transitioning To a Whole Foods Diet | Retro Momma, Vintage Wife

The Brownie Experiment: Which Takes Longer to Make, Boxed or Homemade? | Heavenly Homemakers

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Reading: May 12, 2012 is a post from Life Your Way

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Thanks, Stacy! by Mandi @ Life...Your Way
How exciting for you to meet Susan Wise Bauer and enjoy a week ... by Stacy

7 Reasons Your Kitchen Counters Are Cluttered

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:30:00 GMT

The following post is from Joshua of Becoming Minimalist:

Source: Lucy*Lou

There’s something very refreshing and life-giving about a clean, uncluttered kitchen counter. It sets tone and culture for the entire home. It communicates calm and order. It promotes opportunity and possibility (who enjoys cooking in a cluttered kitchen?). Not to mention, it saves times and promotes cleanliness.

Yet it is one of the most difficult places in the home to keep clean and tidy. There are, of course, several reasons:

The kitchen is hard-wired as a natural gathering place for the family (that’s where we keep the food).
The kitchen is physically located in a high traffic area of the home.
The purpose of the room requires messes to be made during its use.
The kitchen is often used as a collection area for various odds and ends (mail, shopping trips, etc.).

While it is one of the difficult places to keep clutter-free, it is often one of the most desirable. Yet, many of us can’t seem to find the answer or quick fix. But maybe there are no quick kitchen counter solutions; maybe we need to change our thinking entirely. Maybe we need to take an intentional look at the reason ours remains cluttered… and then find a solution based on the problem.

Here are seven reasons why your kitchen counter stays cluttered… which of these do you see in your own life?

1. We own too much stuff.

One of the biggest causes of clutter in our homes is our tendency to put too much stuff in to too little of a space. When we do, it becomes difficult to store things, find things, and access them. As a result, we dread putting things away and it begins convenient to just leave things on the counter. Meanwhile, our cupboards and drawers become storage spaces for gadgets we rarely use.

2. Our possessions don’t have designated homes.

One of the most essential steps in organization and keeping a home clutter-free is to find a proper home for every item. We designate drawers for silverware, cupboards for plates, and shelves for food. If your kitchen counter is too cluttered, the first step in creating a clutter-free kitchen counter is to designate a home for each time – especially those you routinely leave out. Those items look different for each of us, but the principle remains consistent.

3. We think we use things more that we actually do.

If your counters are routinely cluttered, there is a good chance you are storing many “daily-use” items there (toasters, coffee makers, teapots, can openers, etc.) for convenience sake. But in reality, those items spend far more time as clutter than they do as needed instruments for food preparation.

For example, if you make toast every morning for breakfast, it’ll take roughly 3 minutes to toast your bread. And then the toaster will sit unused for the next 23 hours and 57 minutes. You actually use it far less than you think you do. Instead, try putting it away every morning for one week (completing steps #1 and #2 will make this easier). You’ll likely be surprised to see how much space those appliances take up.

4. We think leaving things on your counter is more convenient.

The fallacy of convenience is a big reason our kitchen counters stay cluttered. We keeps things in plain sight because we believe it makes our kitchen more convenient. As a result, our counters fill up with baking ingredients, knife racks, cutting boards, and coffee mugs.

And while it may be more convenient to readily grab those items when needed, we rarely notice the other conveniences we are sacrificing by storing them there. We move them every time we wipe the counters. We sacrifice precious prep space when we cook. And they subtly fight for our attention whenever we enter the room.

5. We leave things in our kitchen that don’t belong there.

As I mentioned, kitchens are notorious for becoming collection areas for all various odds and ends. But rarely is your kitchen the proper home for any of them. Change the culture in your home that allows them to stay there. Instead, think of your kitchen as a Department Store Customer Service Area – items enter there, but rarely stay. You can also extend this thinking to items you already store in your kitchen: televisions, radios, telephone books, etc.

6. We leave too many little jobs unfinished.

When a counter is clear and tidy, it becomes motivation to put things away. But a cluttered counter attracts clutter… and unfinished jobs are clutter. Granted some projects take more time than others, but many kitchen jobs (washing the dishes, putting dishes in the dishwasher, wiping the counters, etc.) can be completed right away before ever leaving the kitchen in the first place. And finishing them will do wonders for your attitude the next time you walk in.

7. We forget what we are missing.

We live our lives and get used to them. When we first moved into our house, we noticed all the little improvements that it needed (spots to paint, door handles to tighten, hinges to grease). Some we repaired right away, others we didn’t. And many of those that didn’t get fixed right away, still haven’t been finished – they’ve just become something we get used to and live with.

In the same way, we get used to our cluttered kitchen counters and don’t realize how freeing it can be to keep them clear. We may be reminded when we walk into a friend’s house or see a photo of a simple kitchen, but we’ve become so accustomed to the current state of ours we forget we can change it.

You don’t need to live with a cluttered kitchen countertop. The solution is closer than you think. Identify which of the reasons above are keeping your counters cluttered. And then find an afternoon (or a whole day if needed) to stage your kitchen for living.

Do any of the reasons above resonate with you? Are there any that I missed?

	Joshua Becker inspires and encourages others to live with less on his blog, Becoming Minimalist. He has also authored two e-books, Simplify and Inside-Out Simplicity. But more importantly, he loves his wife and two small children.

7 Reasons Your Kitchen Counters Are Cluttered is a post from Life Your Way

Backfill and Prepare to Help Kids Overcome School Anxiety

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:01:36 GMT

The following post is from Jennifer Burke, a lifelong educator:

source: MC Quinn

“Mom, my stomach hurts. Can I stay home today?” “I hate school!”

If you hear this frequently, you may have a struggling learner. For these students, school is anything but enjoyable.

Don’t wait for things to get better – usually they don’t.

Without parental involvement and support, worn-out students continue to spiral down until their motivation is non-existent. To increase the opportunities for success next year, plan your summer strategy now.

Students who barely keep up in school need to do two things: catch up and look ahead.

Those may sound juxtaposed, but filling in gaps and preparing for new material works both ends. Here are some ideas on how to do that:

To backfill:

Determine if reading or math is the greatest challenge. (E-mail the teacher now if you aren’t sure.) Start working on material that is easy for your child – usually a level below the grade they are just completing. For a cost of about $20 per year, you can print grade-specific reading materials from www.edhelper.com or www.superteacherworksheets.com.

There are two key skills: decoding – which means figuring out how to say the word – and comprehension – which is understanding what was read. If decoding is hard, go back to basic phonics. If comprehension is hard, have your child stop at the end of every page or paragraph to tell you what they just read.

Try to help your child “see a movie in their head” as they read, something that good readers do naturally. Talk about the beginning, middle and end. Discuss the main character and make predictions about what might happen next.

Once they are comfortable with fiction, add some non-fiction. Use graphic organizers, available free on the Internet, to better understand the information read.

To fill in math gaps, start with the basics. Students who don’t have their basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts memorized usually struggle in math. Use flash cards and online timed games to increase their speed of recall. Once the facts are solidly in place, work on the skill that your student had the most trouble with this past year. www.softschools.com is a great resource for that.

Get prepared!

Give your child a chance to look at next year’s work ahead of time. Ask the school office if you can borrow a copy of the materials that your child will use come fall. By introducing the new material now, your child can approach it at a slower pace. When they see the subjects again in the fall, they will have the advantage of already being familiar with them.

Commit to a flexible schedule!

You don’t have to spend the whole summer doing school work. An hour a day would be a great investment in your child’s academic future. Allow your child to have input into the timing and they will take more ownership of the process.

They may not thank you now, but they will definitely thank you later!

What school activities do you do during the summer to boost your child’s readiness for next year?

	Jennifer is passionate about children and education. She homeschooled her two sons for five years, established and directed a Christian school in Maryland for 20 years, and currently teaches in a public school in a Chicago suburb. She loves investing in relationships and delights in every moment that she spends with her family.

Backfill and Prepare to Help Kids Overcome School Anxiety is a post from Life Your Way

How Much Do You Really Need to Retire?

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:45:28 GMT

“People with plans achieve far more than people without plans. Successful businesses follow business plans. We even prepare written plans for after we are dead. So, it only makes sense that we should apply the same forethought and planning to our lives.”

~Stefan Wissenbach, financial strategist and founder of MagicNumber.com

One of my goals for this year is to really get a good plan in place for retirement saving. As an entrepreneur, saving for retirement has not been my top priority as much as, say, feeding my family. That said, I know it’s incredibly important, and I also love the idea of work becoming optional at some point before I’m ready to actually stop working, both for the security and flexibility that provides!

Retirement planning can be a bit overwhelming, though, since it seems pretty impossible to go from $0 to $500,000 or $1 million or however much you might need!

And just how much money do you need to make work optional anyway?

Even if you have been putting money in savings or a retirement account, knowing exactly how much you need or when you’ll reach that point can be a bit elusive.

It Depends on Your Lifestyle

Personally, we’re not planning on an especially extravagant retirement. We like our simple life out in the country, and while I will want to have enough money to travel to see our girls even if they move away (while praying that they’ll stay close!), I don’t see us jet-setting around the world, buying expensive cars or building a bigger house.

On the other hand, if you are planning to travel the world or enjoy the arts or whatever your passion may be, you’ll obviously need to take that into account as well.

And, of course, the number is going to depend on when you hope to reach that point too. You’ll need a whole lot more money to retire at 45 than you will to retire at 70.

Perfection Paralysis

It’s questions and variables like these that make me shove my fingers in my ears, close my eyes and sing, “La la la la” as I try to ignore the need for retirement planning. Sure, I could pay a financial advisor to answer them for me, but what I’d get is one person’s opinion at a fairly significant cost.

Trying to make sense of the numbers sucks the motivation right out of the whole “work is optional” goal. And let’s face it, if you’re not motivated to reach that point, you’re going to have trouble making the decision to set aside the necessary money each month.

MagicNumber.com

I had the opportunity to play with MagicNumber.com a couple of weeks ago, and I gotta tell you — this is a seriously cool program. I walked through and created a bare bones retirement plan just to see what the absolute minimum amount of money I should be putting away each month in order to retire by 65 would be. That number was lower than I expected, which was encouraging.

And then the real fun began.

I decided to see how much money I’d need to put away to retire at 45 (just 15 years away), or to retire with enough money to jet set around the world after all. Sean and I had a lot of fun dreaming up various scenarios and coming up with various plans to make them happen before settling on the one that actually made the most sense for us right now.

Not Just Retirement Planning

But MagicNumber.com doesn’t just do retirement planning. You can also figure out how much you’ll need to put away each month to buy a new car with cash in 3-5 years, or how much you need to save for your 25th anniversary celebration, or whatever your financial goals may be.

They’re also developing other goal-setting tools to help you create new habits and design vision boards for your future!

To get your Magic Number today:

Visit MagicNumber.com and enter the age at which you want work to become optional.
Design your perfect post-work life using Magic Number’s fun and interactive tools.
Let the system calculate your “Magic Number”, the amount of wealth you need for work to become optional and monthly goals to help make that happen.

When would you like work to become optional for your family? What do you hope to do in your retirement?

This post is sponsored by MagicNumber.com, but all opinions are 100% mine.

How Much Do You Really Need to Retire? is a post from Life Your Way

Kid Made Tile Coasters for Mother’s Day

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:01:10 GMT

The following post is from Kristina of Toddler Approved:

source: Toddler Approved

Kid made gifts that showcase artwork and can also serve a functional purpose are some of my favorite things to have my kids create for Mother’s Day. I have seen several DIY tile coaster tutorials on Pinterest that looked simple, so we decided to adapt the idea a bit to include kid artwork and designs and make some special coasters for the grandmothers this year.

source: Toddler Approved

I did this project with several ages of kids/teenagers in addition to my own. It was fun to see the different results. I think this project is best for kids ages 6 and up, though younger children could definitely do the project with more adult supervision.

Supplies:

ceramic tiles (I got glass ones for $2/tile at Home Depot and then found white ceramic ones for 16 cents/tile at Lowes, since Home Depot was out)
scrapbook paper and colored cardstock
paper cutter or scissors
paint (we used washable kid paint)
paintbrush
Mod Podge
Spray adhesive
Clear acrylic sealer
any other painting tools
felt (we used black)

Directions:
1. Cut paper into different sizes. We used 2×2 squares and 4×4 squares.

2. Use paint and various tools to create designs on some of the plain pieces of cardstock.

source: Toddler Approved

3. Let the painted designs dry and then decide how you want to use them to create your coasters.

source: Toddler Approved

I loved all these different variations. You could also use markers and stickers or cut paper into different designs to make these even more fun.

4. Cover the surface of the tile with one layer of Mod Podge.

source: Toddler Approved

5. Adhere the painted paper and other designed cardstock pieces to the top of the tile.

6. Let it dry.

7. Add another layer of Mod Podge on top of the cardstock paper. Let it dry and then repeat. You want to do at least 2-3 layers of Mod Podge. If the layers don’t dry in between each coat then the paper will bubble up.

source: Toddler Approved

8. After the Mod Podge dries, cut a 4×4 square of felt and use the spray adhesive to adhere the felt to the bottom of the tile.

9. Once everything is dry, spray the top of the tiles with a clear acrylic sealer to finish off the tiles and make them waterproof.

10. Wrap up the tiles or tie them together with a ribbon and a card and they are ready to give as a simple Mother’s Day gift (or a great gift for your favorite teacher as you finish the school year).
Here are a few other homemade Mother’s Day gifts I want to try out:
The Mom Book via Real Simple

Water Color Coffee Filter Flowers via Hands On: As We Grow

FIMO Flower cards via Red Ted Art

What do you typically give as a gift for Mother’s Day? If you are a mom, what do your children typically give to you?

	Kristina is a mom of 2 and a former Special Ed teacher for children with communication disabilities. She blogs at Toddler Approved as she looks for ways to make life a little more fun and creative with her kids while embedding learning into everything that she does. Kristina tweets as @ToddlerApproved and can be found on FB and Pinterest.

Kid Made Tile Coasters for Mother’s Day is a post from Life Your Way

Enjoy a Rainbow of Flavor

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:30:05 GMT

While nutritionists and health nuts may differ on the perfect fat or sweetener, no one will question the importance of fruit and vegetables in our regular diet. One recommendation is to be sure to include all the colors of the rainbow into your shopping cart — and your meal planning.

And we don’t mean Blue #2.

Check out these great recipes as a way to include a variety of flavors, textures, and yes, color, into your diet.

1. Cutting Grapefruit Sections
2. Strawberry Groundcherry Jam
3. Orange Feta Salad with Almonds & Balsamic
4. Carrot Salad with Cilantro & Pepitas
5. How to Cut a Pineapple
6. Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Hash with Eggs
7. Spring Vegetable Soup
8. Berry Me, Please {3 Recipes}
9. Shrimp Tacos with Purple Cabbage

	A foodie at heart, Jessica Fisher has learned to reconcile a tight budget with her love for great food. As a busy mom of six voracious eaters, she regularly shares healthy, delicious and budget-friendly recipes at GoodCheapEats. She also writes at her parenting blog, LifeasMOM.

Enjoy a Rainbow of Flavor is a post from Life Your Way

Will the Safe Chemicals Act be Enough?

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The following post is from Katie of Kitchen Stewardship:

source: Aberdeen Proving Ground

Did you know that of the 84,000 or so chemicals floating around the American marketplace, the EPA only has “sufficient health and safety information” on 200 of them?

The New York Times recently poked fun at parents who make their own cleaning supplies from baking soda just to try to avoid toxins, and although they also included helpful information on the pervasiveness of toxic chemicals in our world, Andy Igrejas is afraid the public will miss the point: that chemicals are making us sick, and the government has little to do with making the situation better.

In classic backwards logic, the 35-year-old law governing chemicals gives them the same amount of credit and leeway as human beings: innocent until proven guilty. Only they forget to take any of them to court to make sure they didn’t commit any crimes or harm any citizens. If a certain chemical is proven to be harmful, the law makes it very difficult for government agencies to restrict its use.

It’s time for a change.

The Safe Chemicals Act, introduced in May of last year and due soon for a vote in the Senate, offers much-needed reform to our toxic world.

What’s in There?

Some of the points the new act would address include

1. Require EPA to identify and restrict the “worst of the worst” chemicals, those that persist and build up in the food chain;

2. Require basic health and safety information for all chemicals as a condition for entering or remaining on the market;

3. Reduce the burden of toxic chemical exposures on people of color and low-income and indigenous communities;

4. Upgrade scientific methods for testing and evaluating chemicals to reflect best practices called for by the National Academy of Sciences; and

5. Generally provide EPA with the tools and resources it needs to identify and address chemicals posing health and environmental concerns.

I’m not one to get very, if I can help it, and I do think that government does a bit more meddling than it ought. After all, dumb laws are responsible for flame retardants in children’s sleepwear, which takes away my free choice, and raw milk being illegal to sell in Michigan, which I can at least work around.

I don’t think government should make all of our choices with us, but of course there have to be some laws of the land, or we’d all be in a mess of trouble.

Will the Law Help?

source: Lady Dragonfly CC

Is this Safe Chemicals Act a healthy balance between government making the decision about good and bad and simply requiring information to be shared with the consumer? Will it help us get rid of some things that really are nasty?

Allow me to toss out some brief opinions on each point:

Sounds good to me; can getting rid of chemicals possibly be bad? (I bet there is a way. Someone will tell me the way; I’m waiting to learn.)
I’m excited to have more information, and hopefully that information will be easily accessible to the consumer. Where this point could go awry is the tax payer money it will cost to enforce.
How in the world does this point realistically shake out? I guess I need to read the act to see what practical steps are recommended to achieve what is an admirable but vague goal.
This sounds like a good idea…how much will that cost? Will positive change really result from better testing?
As long as the EPA doesn’t start saying that innocuous substances, or perhaps things like raw milk, need to be banned, I’m hoping this point can’t go wrong.

You can read more about the Safe Chemicals Act here and even see the full text of the act here along with some other links of interest.

Do Something to Make Change Happen

If you’re feeling politically active, sign the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families petition here and join over 76,000 other people (hoping for 100,000) in asking your Senator to clean up the toxic chemicals in the U.S. Are you in the D.C. Area? Join the stroller brigade to bring awareness to taking action on toxic chemicals.

The Safe Chemicals Act seems like good legislation and a bandwagon worth jumping on, but any time the government gets involved in daily life, there’s a risk.

What if all the information is as (not) helpful as the federally regulated “zero trans fats” labels that allow trans fat to be used? This is the same governing body, we must remember, that mandates vaccines that many parents disagree with and don’t recognize naturopathy as a genuine medical tool worthy of insurance, even though many find healing with naturopaths.

I’m not sure how many decisions about toxic chemicals the government is qualified to make, but hopefully in this case, knowledge will be power. Knowing what chemicals are swimming in the sea of commerce and just how those chemicals might impact our children’s health may give concerned parents and other citizens the fuel they need to teach one another how to create healthy homes, government regulations or not.

Popular opinion seems to have worked in getting BPA out of most containers on the market today, and I’m hopeful that the culture’s tide will turn even more strongly toward the natural life and away from the toxic chemicals that are unabashedly befriending our children daily.

What do you think? Does government have a place in toxic chemical reform? Is this Act something you hope will pass? (If so, sign the petition!)

Sources: SaferChemicals.org 5/2011, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families press release

	Katie Kimball is a mom of three who spends a ton of time in the kitchen making real food with whole ingredients and then blogs about her successes and failures at Kitchen Stewardship. She believes everything in life is a gift from God and should be taken care of wisely.

Will the Safe Chemicals Act be Enough? is a post from Life Your Way

25 Ways to Involve Little Family Members Around the House

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:30:31 GMT

The following post is from Becky of Clean Mama:

source: Schnittke

It’s the end of the school year and summer is just around the corner. Why not take a little time this Mother’s Day week to think of ways that you can involve the little family members in some daily tasks around the house. It’s a little gift for you! Letting up a little on expectations and control, you’ll gain so much more – independent children, less tasks for just you to complete and most importantly, children that know the importance of contribution and responsibility.

Bedrooms

Make beds. I have a fitted sheet on the kids’ beds and a washable quilt – this makes it easy for them to pull the quilt up and make their own beds)
Put clothes away from laundry basket as they are able and dirty clothes in the dirty clothes basket.
Put toys away. In the morning and evening works well for us to avoid being overwhelmed by the toy pick up. I remind them before a special activity (screen time, snack time, friend time).

Bathrooms

Wipe down counters (a microfiber rag and water cleans up toothpaste and other spills).
Older children can spray and wipe mirrors (with non-toxic cleaner, of course).
Refills. Let the kids be in charge of toilet paper and tissues
Collect garbage.

Living Areas

Wipe baseboards with baby wipes.
Wipe light switches and door knobs.
Pick up toys.

Kitchen

Load and unload silverware and plastics, when younger and then adding breakable dishware as kids get older.
Set the table.
Clear plates at the table.
Sweep with a little broom and dust pan are great for little one’s hands.
Dustbuster responsibility. Let them suck up the crumbs and turn it into a game to fill the bin.
Wipe the table down.
Recycle and sort trash.

Laundry

Sort by color.
Sort and pair up socks.
Pair items up: socks, pajamas, outfits.
Sort clothes.
Put clothes on hangers.
Collect garbage in the laundry room. I have a small trash basket in the laundry room for lint, tags, etc. that the kids take care of emptying when asked.

Pet Care

Take care of water and food for pets. My oldest started this routine around 5 years old.
‘Help’ with brushing and bathing. This is a fun summertime activity with the hose for us.

My Favorite Ways to Get Help in a Hurry

Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and see how if we can clean a whole room or floor in that amount of time.
Chore charts work well in our house, no nagging, just doing.
Using special options as ‘rewards’: once your clean room is cleaned up you can have 10 minutes on the computer, go play with your friends, take something else out, etc.
I need to (fill in the blank), if you’d like to help me we can play your game sooner.
Let kids help build a chore chart or responsibility chart. Taking ownership in the creation of the tasks will ensure a better success rate!

What are some ways you involve your littlest family members around the house?

	Becky is a self-proclaimed clean freak and list maker. She is a work-at-home mom to three little ones, and in her spare time she enjoys sharing her cleaning and organizing tricks and tips on her blog, Clean Mama and through her Etsy Shop, Clean Mama Printables.

25 Ways to Involve Little Family Members Around the House is a post from Life Your Way

Take the Time to Purge

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:41 GMT

The following post is from Lisa of Working Naked:

source: Rita H Cobbs

I’d love to invest in a storage facility. You know, the ones where people pay $120 a month to store $50 worth of stuff.

I know it’s hard to get rid of things, especially if you’ve had them for a long time.

My cousin used to have a basement loaded with boxes that she’d had almost her whole life. A few years ago, her basement flooded and she had to get rid of everything. Last year she finally admitted that she was relieved about the flood. If it hadn’t happened, she still would have had a basement full of boxes she didn’t need to keep.

You don’t have to wait for a disaster to clear out your office (or maybe even your garage). Consider these questions to help you take the plunge and purge.

Are you using out-of-date equipment?

Figure out what your time is worth, and whether or not you can afford to waste time each day using unproductive equipment. In other words, stop being cheap, step up to the plate and buy a new computer. If your desktop is close to dying, consider whether you should invest in a laptop instead. You’ll be able to take the laptop with you when you travel, work from a coffee shop, or meet with clients.

Are you struggling with outdated software?

If a computer program is too complicated or has more features than you need, buy a different one. Your colleagues or even your neighbor may use a certain program that works perfectly for him or her. That doesn’t mean the same program will work for you. Before you invest in new software, try it out first. Most websites offer a trial period. Keep in mind that technology is supposed to help you save time, not make you waste time.

Can you avoid information overload?

Fight the urge to keep every magazine or newspaper you’ve ever received. If you know that you’ll never read something, get rid of it. If you ever need an article from a past issue, it’s probably available online. The same advice is true with e-mail newsletters. Before you sign up to receive an online newsletter, decide whether you’ll have time to read yet another one. Once or twice a year, look through your list of e-mail newsletters and unsubscribe from at least half of them.

Are you facing your fear of purging?

Some people are afraid that the minute they throw or give something away, they’ll need it again. The reality is that when you need something, you may not be able to find it. Consider this: if you own something, but you can’t find it, it’s of no use to you.

De-clutter your home office by peeling away each layer. Start with information and items you haven’t used in a year. Then move on to items you could store in your garage, basement or attic. The other option, of course, is to donate the items you don’t use.

Your home office probably looks a bit different now than when you first started working from home. When you take the time to declutter your office, you’ll save time, money (by not buying duplicate supplies), and your sanity.

What has motivated you to clear out your home office?

	Home office expert Lisa Kanarek is the founder of WorkingNaked.com and the author of five books about working from home, including Organize Your Home Office For Success. Lisa works with entrepreneurs and home-based employees through seminars and individual consultations, to create functional home offices that meet each individual’s working style.

Take the Time to Purge is a post from Life Your Way

Make the Most of Your Home with Unused Spaces

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:30:03 GMT

I’ve partnered with Apartment Guide as an Official Apartment Guide Organizing Blogger to share articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style over the next few months.

source: Mandi Ehman

Our home is the perfect size for our family: at about 1,800 square feet, it’s not too big and not too small.

But our nursery? Formerly known as the master bedroom closet, it’s pretty tiny! A skinny wardrobe in the corner holds the baby’s clothes (and at two-and-a-half years old, she is still my baby), and that leaves room for the crib and not much else.

source: Mandi Ehman

One of the ways we make the most of this space is by storing extra sheets and blankets under the crib. We originally kept those in a plain cardboard box, but it took just a few minutes to cover the box in the leftovers from the fleece I used to make her sheets. The end result was a cute, coordinating “basket” that didn’t cost me anything extra!

Unused Space Throughout Your Home

This same idea holds true no matter what size your home is. From a 200 square-foot studio to a 3,800 square-foot beach house, making the most of unused space is a good way to not only increase storage but also make things more accessible.

Here are more ideas from Apartment Guide to help you utilize unused space around your home:

You can also follow Apartment Guide through your favorite social media networks (see above) for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space and living on a budget!

How do you make the most of unused space in your home?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/?p=108

Make the Most of Your Home with Unused Spaces is a post from Life Your Way

Don’t Bother Blogging

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:41 GMT

The following post is from James of Google+ Tutorials:

source: Des Morris

Yep.

I often have those days where my body tries to tell me: don’t bother blogging.

See, it’s not easy to be creative on demand, yet, if we are to be successful in what we are trying to do as bloggers, consistency has got to play a big part in that.

Writers block can affect the best of us, and when it happens it is not at all nice! But, as they say, you have to be in it to win it, and perseverance is key. The big question is this, what can you do in those times where you are uninspired and your body is trying to encourage you not to bother?

Get Rid of Distractions

When you are trying to focus on the task in hand and write something awesome for your audience, yet not feeling it, one of the worst things that you can do is allow distractions anywhere near you. Don’t let it happen!

What do I do? Stick some headphones in, put some soft music on, and use the awesome fullscreen feature on WordPress. Right now as I am writing this post all I can see on my 23″ monitor is this very blog post. The world may be falling apart behind it, my inbox might be going crazy, my Skype might be constantly ringing, Katy Perry might even be tweeting me, but I am blissfully unaware. I am getting stuff done, and it feels awesome!

Mix Up Your Process

One of the reasons that you might be struggling to get that awesome content down is that you have been stuck in the same routine. Mix it up a bit baby!

If you are someone who meticulously plans your blog posts before writing, why don’t you try freestyling it a bit and see what comes out? If you are someone who normally is more freestyle – why don’t you try and get a structured plan on paper before going straight for the kill? I think you will be surprised at how well this might work for you!

Look For Inspiration

I know that I talked above about getting rid of distractions, but sometimes before you get to that point you need to look around for some inspiration. Don’t use it as an opportunity to get distracted from the task, but looking at other websites and blogs in your niche can be a great source of inspiration. One thing that I have mentioned before that I find very helpful for this is Google Reader.

Don’t Give Up

Please, don’t give up. There are thousands and thousands of bloggers competing for your space. The ones that will have the great success, are the ones that don’t give up. Don’t be the quitter!

Guys – I am rooting for you! Have an awesome week and keep at it!

I’d love to know, what are some of your tips for pushing past the “don’t bother blogging” feeling? Let us know in the comments below.

	James Brooks is a professional blogger, web designer and social media consultant based on the South West coast of England. As well as being a co-founder of GPlusTuts, a blog about Google+, James also enjoys blogging about technology, food and tea!

Don’t Bother Blogging is a post from Life Your Way

Homemade Food Gifts for Mother’s Day

Tue, 08 May 2012 21:30:56 GMT

I try to make my gift-giving heartfelt. This means that my gifts are often also edible and homemade, and I try to stay away from the obvious chocolates, flowers and a card. I want my gift to really tell my mom or my mother-in-law or the new mom down the street that I took a minute and thought about what they would really appreciate for their Mother’s Day.

Here are a few nontraditional food gifts that you can give easily and freely.

1. Sleepin’ In Omelette
2. Chicken Empanadas
3. Frozen Cookie Dough
4. Coconut Almond Granola
5. Homemade Yogurt
6. Cheese Straws
7. Strawberry Rhubarb Butter
8. Pickled & Peppered Asparagus
9. Rosemary Roasted Nuts

	Shaina Olmanson is the home cook and photographer behind Food for My Family and Olmanson Photography, a daily contributor to Babble.com’s Family Kitchen Blog and the editor of the food channel for Lifetime Moms. Shaina can usually be found in one of three places: cooking, at the computer or behind the camera.

Homemade Food Gifts for Mother’s Day is a post from Life Your Way

Trend Watch: Bold & Colorful Watches

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:17 GMT

The following post is from Jo-Lynne of Musings of a Housewife:

An easy and inexpensive way to update your wardrobe is with accessories, and nothing is hotter this spring than bold watches.

How fun is this icy blue Plasteramic watch with subdials?

This Black/Silver Round Case Bangle with Stones would be the perfect accessory for a date night or girls night out. And it’s super affordable, too!

This Ice-Watch Purple Flex-Strap Watch would be a great compliment to a casual neutral outfit.

Personally, I love a classic white watch. This Tahitian Jelly Bean watch by Michele is the one I dream about. Every time I walk through Nordstrom, I gaze at it longingly and whisper sweet nothings and promise to someday make it mine.

If you really want to embrace the current trends, get a wrap around watch. This orange Le Mer would be perfect! I’m crazy about orange this spring.

I’ve added these and many more to my Pinterest page all about Watches.

Which is your favorite? Do you have several watches that you switch out, depending on what you’re wearing?

	Jo-Lynne is a Christ follower, mom blogger, barefoot runner, style watcher, reluctant chauffeur, amateur photographer and aspiring locavore. She writes the award-winning lifestyle blog, Musings of a Housewife, and facilitates the social networking group, Philly Social Media Moms.

Trend Watch: Bold & Colorful Watches is a post from Life Your Way

Alcohol-Free CloSYS Oral Rinse for Healthy Mouths

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:11 GMT

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CloSYS for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’ve never been big mouthwash users. Although I love the idea of fresh minty breath, I’m not a fan of “the burn” that comes from traditional mouthwash.

We recently had the opportunity to try CloSYS Oral Rinse, an alcohol-free mouthwash that kills 99% of harmful bacteria and balances the pH in your mouth.

CloSYS comes unflavored, and I was a little bit nervous about whether I would like the taste, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it truly didn’t have any flavor!

(My husband wasn’t a fan of the unflavored oral rinse, but you can easily add a couple drops of the mint flavoring that comes with the oral rinse to achieve a more traditional flavor.)

To use, I brushed my teeth like normal and then swished a couple capfulls of the oral rinse in my mouth for about 30 seconds. After I spit it out, my mouth felt really fresh!

CloSYS promises reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth and fights bad breath for more than eight hours. It does this through eliminating the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath, so you’re not just covering up bad breath; you’re eliminating the source.

Beyond fresh breath, increasing evidence suggests that periodontal disease affects the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as your overall health. Infections in your mouth may cause bacteria to enter into the blood stream and travel to other parts of the body like the heart. One more reason to pursue good oral health!

Be sure to like CloSYS on Facebook to join the conversation and print a $2 coupon to try CloSYS for yourself.

Alcohol-Free CloSYS Oral Rinse for Healthy Mouths is a post from Life Your Way

Choosing (and Paying for) Summer Activities for the Kids

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:41 GMT

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

photo credit: Christina Brown

As the school year winds down, many parents’ thoughts turn to one question: What will I do with the kids home all summer?

From sports to camps to family vacations, there are plenty of activities available to keep your kids busy. But how do you decide? And how do pay for it all?

Deciding How to Spend Summer Vacation

For some families, summer vacation is a respite from the every day shuttling to various activities. It can be a blessing to avoid scheduling anything during June, July and August. For others, summer vacation without a plan is a curse. Their kids need to have structured activities to keep the family from going insane.

When it comes to deciding what to do this summer, ask yourself some important questions:

What kind of summer do I envision for my family? Consider how much traveling you want to do over the summer (both to and from activities as well as for vacations, weddings, or other commitments).

What projects do I want to complete during the summer months (i.e. painting the house, building a deck, gardening, etc.)? We find it helpful to sit down with a calendar and create a plan for the summer.

What level of activity do my children need? Some kids need lots of structure. Others are more self-directed.

What types of activity do my children need? Some kids flourish in sports, while others may do better with academic or art-based activities. Try to pick activities that play to your child’s interests and strengths.

What is the experience worth? Determine the value of the activity your child is interested in. Will help them learn new skills or build on existing ones? How is the program structured? Who teaches it? Are snacks and lunch provided?

What is my budget for the summer? It is important to factor in the costs associated with enrolling your kids in activities. Because we live in a rural area, gas prices are a big consideration for us. And because we’re far from town, we also have to factor in whether or not an activity will affect meal times.

How to Make Summer Activities Affordable

Sports activities and summer camps can really be expensive – especially if you have more than one child interested in participating. It is possible to enjoy the summer when you’re on a budget.

Consider these tips for saving on summer activities for the kids:

Register early. Many organizations offer discounts for early-bird registration, so signing up sooner than later can save you money.

Watch the deal sites. Sign up for daily deal sites like Groupon or Living Social and you can receive alerts to big savings on camps and kids’ activities. Just make sure to read the fine print of every offer to ensure you’re really getting the best deal.

Apply for scholarships or income-based discounts. Many camps and activities offer merit-based scholarships or offer reduced rates if you are income-eligible. Filling out a simple application could help trim the cost of your child’s activities.

Ask if you can barter. Consider what skills you have that may be of interest to the organization your child wants to attend. An artist friend of mine did set design in exchange for dance lessons for her daughter. A talented photographer could offer to take photos of a summer camp. A carpenter could make repairs or help with a building project in exchange for their child’s participation. Think about things you know how to do – whether it is creating marketing materials or helping out with kids and ask about a possible trade of those skills for a fee waiver or reduction.

Visit your local library. Your local library can be a great source of fun, free activities for your child. Ask about summer reading programs and special shows and activities. In addition, some libraries offer free passes to local museums and other attractions.

Make your own camp. On a tight budget? Don’t want to commit to running the kids someplace everyday. Create your own kids camp. Come up with fun kids camp activities to do for a couple of hours each day. Think outdoor fun, messy art projects, making music and more. Get friends and neighbors involved to make planning easier and to get a break from the kids. Each family could host the kids camp one day of the week.

Your child’s summer vacation should be an enjoyable for both your child and you. Focus on picking affordable, quality activities that your child is genuinely interested in, and you’ll have a great summer.

How do you save on summer activities for kids?

	Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 6-year-old and twin 4-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

Choosing (and Paying for) Summer Activities for the Kids is a post from Life Your Way

5 Simple Ways to Decorate with Trays

Mon, 07 May 2012 21:40:14 GMT

The following post is from Myra of My Blessed Life:

source: julipmade.com

One of my favorite decorating accessories is the tray. It is functional and can be used in an immense variety of ways. Trays are made from a multitude of materials – melamine, sisal, wood, mirrored glass, brass, silver and even an old vintage soda box or drawer.

If you love a deal and you enjoy do-it-yourself projects, look for trays at thrift shops and yard sales. Many times spray paint and decoupaged scrapbook paper will make over a tray to perfection. Trays are a wonderful accessory to collect because they are versatile, easy to store and wonderful to decorate with.

Here are 5 simple ways to decorate with trays…

Organize

Do you struggle with keeping the television remote in the same place? Or are your bathroom toiletries all over the counter? Enlist the help of a tray to corral everything in one location. Your coffee table and bathroom counter will thank you for keeping them clutter free!

source: honey we're home

Display

Create a coffee bar or breakfast area in your kitchen and display canisters, mugs, and more within a tray on the counter top. Using a tray gives the illusion that things are neat…even if the items within the tray are not perfectly organized every single day.

Hang

Vintage trays or sentimental family pieces make beautiful wall art. Whether hung as a gallery wall collection or a single tray, hanging trays on the wall can add visual impact as well as creating an interesting conversation starter.

source: pottery barn

Serve

What is more fun than being served breakfast in bed? Trays make eating in bed {or in the living room} more enjoyable. It is a thoughtful touch when entertaining friends or family to serve treats and drinks from a tray. Again, I love how a tray keeps everything {including potential spills} in one place.

source: today's creative blog

Style

Trays add visual layers and texture; so, use them liberally in your home decor. I’ve mentioned a few places that trays can be used – on the coffee table, on the bathroom counter and in the kitchen. While trays should be functional, that’s not all they do. Design a simple vignette on a table or buffet and include a candle, a stack of books and a glass vase on a tray.

There are endless options for decorating with trays. I hope I’ve inspired you to do some organizing, displaying, hanging, serving and styling with trays in your home!

Do you use trays to decorate your home?

	Myra has a B.A. in Interior Design and is currently self-employed. When she’s not spending time with her little man, thrifting, creating, shopping or working on a project, Myra enjoys date nights with her husband and blogging at My Blessed Life.

5 Simple Ways to Decorate with Trays is a post from Life Your Way

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5 Super Simple Family Fun Night Ideas…with a Twist!!

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:30:53 GMT

The following post is from Kat of Inspired To Action:

photo credit: pdam2

Do you wish you could do a family night, but feel overwhelmed by all the intricate, complex ideas on Pinterest? Are you tired of plain old family movie, game and story nights?

Today I’m sharing a few ideas with you that require zero preparation but will create fantastic memories for your whole family!

Ready? Let’s go:

1. A Simple Family Dinner vs. Backwards Night!

You can transform a simple family dinner with one small, easy change…have dinner backwards. Announce to your family that it’s backwards night and let everyone’s creativity take over.

Turn your clothes around backwards.
Move your pony tail to the front of your head.
Eat under the table. Eat dessert first.
Punch holes in the bottoms of juice boxes or soda cans and stick a straw in.
Say thank you for dinner and goodnight BEFORE dinner.

Our kids favorite thing to do is to put US to bed after dinner. We ask them to read us a story. We ask for one more hug. And water. And a kiss. We come out. And then we stay in just long enough for them to wonder what to do with themselves.

It’s fun for all of us!

2. Watch American Idol vs. Have A Family Variety Show!

Do you have secret talents that you kids don’t know about yet? This is the night to pull them out.

Announce to everyone as soon as they get home that you’re having a family variety show tonight, and that everyone needs to plan a performance. (If you have a shy child, they can be a ticket taker or judge or MC.)

Print or color a big sign.
Hang a sheet for a curtain.
Use a hairbrush for a mic.
Set up dining room chairs in rows for a stuffed animal audience.

At the time of the performance, do something fun and unexpected for your kids. Do they know about your mad yo-yo skills? Your juggling mastery? How you can twirl a pencil in your fingers?

Whatever your skill, show it off and have fun. The more fun your kids see you having, the more fun they’ll have!

3. Game night vs. Design A Game!

You could do the standard kind of game night, where you all play a board game, but you could also be creative and try:

Making up your own family game. Use cards or a poster board and action figures.
Create your own version of tag or hide and seek or Capture the Flag.
Let your kids make up a card game.
Play charades using family inside jokes or stories.

4. Movie night vs. Make a Movie!

Again, you could just watch a movie, but since most phones, cameras and portable video game systems also come with the ability to film, why not try making your very own movie?

Let your kids play starring roles.
Dress up.
Make up your own screenplay.
Go on location.
Reenact a favorite book or movie.

During the week, you could edit it on your phone or your computer, and then, the next family fun night could be a big premiere where every gets dressed up for the first screening.

5. Story Night vs. Create A Story!

You guessed it. Don’t just read a story, make up your own.

You could each take turns telling a story, or you could tell a story together by taking turns one sentence or paragraph at a time.

Don’t Just Read About It, Do It!

All of these fun night ideas are so simple, you could easily pull it off tonight. So, I double dare you. Ohh…yes I did. Be bold and make memories! Ready? Go!

Have you ever done a family fun night? What ideas have you enjoyed?

	Kat blogs at Inspired To Action, a site dedicated to helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat loves music, running, technology, Jesus and Tex-Mex food. Not necessarily in that order.

5 Super Simple Family Fun Night Ideas…with a Twist!! is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2012 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Motherhood Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Cloud Computing: What’s the Best Service for You?

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:20 GMT

The following post is from Michelle of Mommy Misadventures:

source: Don Nunn

As a busy writer and blogger, I’m always working on something, whether it’s a draft of a new blog post, a hastily scribbled scene for short story or research that I’m doing for a client. The problem is that most of the time, my work and personal files are often scattered between my laptop, my desktop, a tablet and my smart phone. File sharing between my devices is crucial to my daily digital life. (Not to mention my sanity!) And the easiest way for me to gather all of these little files and sync them in one place is to use cloud storage.

What is the cloud?

Cloud computing refers to a variety of computer services that are hosted at a remote company and accessible to a variety of different computing devices using an Internet connection. In the case of cloud storage, you can store your data on remote server and then access it using an application called a client on your computing device. This client automatically syncs your data so that both the server and your devices, so that all of your devices share the

Disadvantages

If there’s one thing I am ultra paranoid about, it’s file security. Strictly speaking, the most secure spot for any digital file is to have a single copy on a non-networked computer with limited physical access. That’s great in theory, but if you live in the real world, completely impractical. Before signing up with any cloud storage service, read the service’s fine print. Since you’re giving a third party access to your files, you need to know that you can trust them to store your files correctly but also to protect your data and not to use it for their own purposes.

Popular Services

Dropbox

Free — 2GB; can earn up to 18 GB with referrals
Premium plans start at $9.99/month for 20 GB
Available for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android

Dropbox has been around since 2008 and is one of the most popular cloud file sharing services out there. I’ve used Dropbox for several years, and I cannot imagine life without it. Being able to share my files between various operating systems has always been its greatest advantage for me since, until recently, I often split my work between my Linux and Windows machines. If you’ve got a lot of friends and/or are very active in social media, you’ll be interested to know about Dropbox’s referral program. While Dropbox only offers 2 GB of space for its free users, you can earn 500 MB space per referral and gain up to 18 GB worth of free space.

Google Drive

Free storage — 5 GB
Premium plans start at $2.49/month for 25 GB
Available for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android

Google may be the newcomer to the cloud storage heavyweights, but they’re not to be ignored. One of the differences with Google Drive is that it shares premium storage space with other Google products. For instance, if you buy the premium upgrade of 25 GB for $2.49/month, that extra 25 GBs can be used with either your Google Drive account or your Picasa account. Since the service is so new, it is not yet available for all Google accounts.

I signed up for Google Drive and received access within 48 hours, but your times may vary. I’m a pretty heavy Google user, and I am pretty happy with the service so far. It is very easy to use with the advantage of being very Dropbox-like.

Microsoft SkyDrive

Free storage — 7GB (some eligible for 25 GB upgrade)
Premium — Additional 20 GB available starting at $10/year
Available for PC, Mac, iOS, Windows

Skydrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, available to Windows Live users. Users that signed up before April 22, 2012 can currently opt in for 25 GB worth of free storage. Skydrive integrates heavily with Office’s online functions as well as with the Bing search engine and also has social network integration.

To be honest, I haven’t used SkyDrive much. If you are a heavy Windows 7 or Windows Live user, you’ll probably get a lot of use from this particular cloud service.

Apple iCloud

Free storage — 5 GB
Additional storage available starting at $10/month for 10 GB
Available for iOS 5, Mac OS X (Lion), PC

Apple’s iCloud service is Apple’s centralized data service that synchronizes data including photos, calendar and documents between various iOS devices and Mac and PC-based computers. It requires either an iOS 5 device (iPad, iPhone, etc.) or a Mac running OS X Lion to sign up. While Apple gives every iCloud user 5 GB worth of storage, it is worth noting that not all data counts towards this storage amount. (For example, iTunes files that are downloaded from the iTunes store are not counted against this amount.)

While I don’t have a Mac or iOS device myself, after speaking with a few of my Mac-loving friends, I’ve found that most people do appreciate iCloud and its data syncing capabilities though for various reasons, did not use the document sharing functions.

Do you use a cloud storage service? Which is your favorite service?

	Michelle Mista is an IT professional, writer and blogger with a love for all kinds of technology. She writes about tech tips and trends for work at home professionals on her portfolio blog and muses about motherhood at Mommy Misadventures. She is on the constant quest to balance life, work and geekery.

Cloud Computing: What’s the Best Service for You? is a post from Life Your Way

Amazon Deals: Kindle Freebies, Diaper Deals + More

Mandi — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:30:31 +0000

{Click here for the full list of current deals.}

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Amazon Deals: Kindle Freebies, Diaper Deals + More is a post from Life Your Way

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Weekend Reading: May 5, 2012

Mandi — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:01:56 +0000

source: Mandi Ehman

We spent the last week on vacation, first in Virginia Beach and then in the Outer Banks where we shared a beach house with my parents, grandmother and sister, and we couldn’t have asked for a better vacation. The weather was (mostly!) beautiful, there were no crowds, and we spent a lot of time relaxing, playing board games and hanging out at the beach. Pretty much perfect!

Now I’m in Virginia with Tsh, Jessica, Stephanie and Heidi, visiting both Colonial Williamsburg and Peace Hill Press and spending some time with Susan Wise Bauer. I don’t really enjoy traveling without my family, but this was one opportunity I couldn’t pass up; as a classical homeschooler, Susan is pretty much a rockstar in my world!

If you’re a Life Your Way subscriber, you may have noticed that you didn’t receive updates this week. Unfortunately, the feeds stopped working properly while I was on vacation, and I didn’t realize it until Thursday, but I think those are working again!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

Life {Find Me Here…}

The Best Time to … {Podcast} | VickyandJen.com

Running an Efficient, Happy Home | The Washington Post

Safe Sentry Spring Cleaning Blogger Challenge

Food {Yummy Snackin’}

Enjoy Homemade Pretzels in Lots of Fun Ways | Good (Cheap) Eats

7 Yogurt Snacks for Kids | Family Kitchen

My Favorite Quick, Healthy Snacks | Simple Organized Living

Work {For Entrepreneurs and WAHMs}

Coping with Email Overload | Harvard Business Review

How Work-at-Home-Moms Can Build a Successful Online Business | Brian Gardner

Sometimes You Have to Dunk. | Jon Acuff’s Blog

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Reading: May 5, 2012 is a post from Life Your Way

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Thanks so much, Kristen! by Mandi @ Life...Your Way
Great article in the Washington Post! I hope you enjoy your ... by Kristen

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How to Prepare Your Home Business for a Natural Disaster

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Take Charge of Your Summer with the 2012 Summer Survival Calendar

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7 Ways to Use Evernote to Manage Your Chaos

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Why is growing a plant important?

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DIY Teacher Appreciation Gift: Photo Flower Pens

SEO Optimize Your Blog Posts Using Keywords

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Negotiate your rates.

Drop unhealthy (and expensive) vices.

Read. Read. Read.

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Weekend Reading: May 12, 2012

Motherhood {A Heart for Tanzania}

Food {Little Steps, Big Payoffs}

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7 Reasons Your Kitchen Counters Are Cluttered

1. We own too much stuff.

2. Our possessions don’t have designated homes.

3. We think we use things more that we actually do.

4. We think leaving things on your counter is more convenient.

5. We leave things in our kitchen that don’t belong there.

6. We leave too many little jobs unfinished.